Bearcat 210 XL

[kcoleman]

I recently picked up a Bearcat 210 XL at a flea market. I bought this more for the novelty of the scanner but thought if it worked, then it would be a good addition to my megger shack. By all accounts the scanner seems to operate. It does take a little time for the old LED to warm up and become visible. The volume and squelch work, lockout and delay seem to work. It did come with the stock telescoping antenna. I've tried this radio on several occasions always with the same results...I enter a few local public service freqs, let her scan and nothing. I have other scanners running so I know there is traffic on the freqs I've entered.

So tonight I thought I'd play around with it again. I took the case (metal) off of the radio and plug her up, again put in a few freqs....low and behold she is working...still needs some adjustments I think and maybe an external speaker, but she was stopping on the same traffic that my Pro-95 was. I was completely and pleasantly surprised.

Here is the rub...I put the cover back on and guess what...dead silence. Could the case be grounding out the radio or causing something else? Have any of you ever experienced this type of issue before? If so what was the cure. I have noticed a GRND screw on the rear of the unit...is it imperative that I use this. Looking for a little help and guidance.

Keith

 

[wmbio]

The Bearcat 210xl has a service history of bad capacitors and pass regulator transistors, that causes this low, no recieve symptom. These bad caps impact primarily your operating DC voltages inside the radio. The very dim dispay, as you said "has to warm up". If you are handy with a soldering iron, replacing C-88, 47uf/35V will restore brightness to the display, this also provides drive to the inverter that provides -18 and +25vdc to the IF circuits also. The emitter of Q19 should be 9vdc, the collector of Q16 should be around 10vdc, IC6 is the +5vdc regulator, check it's output @5vdc.

Look on the web for a schematic drawing, this will help in your repair effort.

This will give you some direction to start repairing the unit.

Huffy

 

[kcoleman]

Huffy,

Thanks for the ideas...I guess I'll have to hone my soldering skills. Thanks for the info...at least it is a start.

Any thoughts on why the scanner will recieve with the case off of the unit and not when the case is put back on?

Keith